JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD

Our burdens are light when we live a resurrection faith (1 Peter 1:3-9)

New words broke out of the silence of Holy Saturday and touched the hearts and the minds of the men and women who had known and loved Jesus. These words were: "He has risen, risen indeed." They were not shouted from the rooftops or carried around the city on big placards. They were whispered from ear to ear as an intimate message that could be truly heard and understood only by a heart that had been yearning for the coming of the kingdom and had recognized its first signs in the words and deeds of the man from Nazareth.

All is different and all is the same for those who say "Yes" to the news that is whispered through the ages from one end of the world to the other. Trees are still trees, rivers are still rivers, mountains are still mountains, and people in their hearts are still able to choose between love and fear. But all that has been lifted up in the risen body of Jesus and placed at the right had of God. The prodigal child is placed in the loving embrace of the Father; the little child is put in its mother's arms; the true heir has been given the best robe and a precious ring, and brothers and sisters invited to the same table. All is the same, and all is made new. As we live our lives with a resurrection faith, our burdens become light burdens and our yokes easy yokes because we have found rest in the gentle and humble heart of Jesus that belongs for all eternity to God.

Taken from "Walk with Jesus", Way of the Cross Meditations by Henri J. M. Nouwen